Magnesium Oxide Board--a Gypsum Board Substitute
Nov 2007---I was doing considerable web searching
for a product to use to substitute for sheetrock and any other brand of gypsum board.
It just does not make sense tome to use gypsum board in this storm plagued
region when we all know that it basically 'melts' and what doesn't melt and disintegrate,
grows mold and mildew.
Luckily a copy of the trade magazine, Walls and
Ceilings came the next day. In it was a big article on a product being imported
from Asia that sounds like a great substitute for sheetrock. MgO or
Magnesium Oxide.
An article by Robert Thomas, gave me lots of details and specifics. Several
of the importers and distributors had purchased ads in that issue of Walls And
Ceilings. Thomas says
"Magnesium oxide board “MgO board” is a factory-made, non-insulating sheathing board product. It can be used for a number of applications including wall and ceiling linings, fascias, soffits, tile backing and underlayments. It is made of magnesium oxide, a type of mineral cement, and is commonly called simply “MgO” (pronounced emm-gee-oh) due to its chemical composition of magnesium (chemical symbol Mg) and oxygen (chemical symbol O). Think of MgO as a type of sheathing board–sort of like drywall or cement board–but with much-improved characteristics such as fire resistance, weatherability, strength, resistance to mold and mildew, and so on.
MgO is available in many forms, and for building construction comes in various thicknesses and sheet sizes. It also comes in various grades, such as smooth finishes, rough textures, and utility grades. It is white, beige or light gray in color, and has a “hard” sound when rapped with your knuckles–somewhat like portland cement board. There are dozens of companies that make MgO board, most of which are in Asia. There are several large producers, but most are small local manufacturers who serve a region.
Not much MgO is used in North America so far, but no doubt will become much more widely used in the future."
"The use of MgO goes back many centuries, almost to the Pyramids. It was originally used to make mortars for masonry construction. Nowadays, in many countries, MgO is often used for mortars. In North America, portland cement is used most of the time.
"
"MgO boards are harder than drywall, and are somewhat like the portland cement board used in bathtub enclosures. MgO is ‘worked’ in a manner like a combination of drywall and cement boards. It can be scored and snapped, although it is stronger than drywall and requires a bit more effort. It can be cut with a power saw, drilled-through and fastened like other similar boards."
"Like any sheathing board, MgO board can absorb water but its performance is unaffected. Thus it can be used indoors and outdoors, and in damp locations, such as showers. Like portland cement based sidings, if MgO is used outdoors in an exposed location, it needs some form of coating, such as paint. MgO can be used structurally–as in bracing for walls–and also semi-structurally, such as an underlayment for flooring."
Doesn't this sound like a great product
?
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I have since spoken with four of the
distributors for magnesium oxide boards. And hopefully we ill be using this product
in Villa Lagoon on the walls and ceilings that are not to be covered with more
detailed products. These are not paid links, just info I rounded up.
Our choice for Villa
Lagoon: Magnum™ Board (Magnesium Oxide Board or MgO
Board) is a technologically advanced building material that offers superior performance in every category when compared to traditional wood, gypsum and cement based products.
Magnum™ Board is virtually impervious to fire, water, insects; does not feed mold or mildew; is non-toxic, non- flammable and non-combustible; is durable, maintains it’s dimensional stability – even when wet; and, has exceptional bonding surface.
Magnum™ Board is a mineral based green builder product. And it is homogenous – no de-lamination.
I have spoken to Dan Armstrong several times and he is a really nice guy. Cal
Magnum Building Products if you have questions like I did. www.magnumbp.com
Here are some of the other suppliers that I have
identified:
Dragonboard--You can use Dragonboard wherever a UL rated fireproof, waterproof, mold free, fungus free, high impact surface is called for.
Dragonboard cuts, handles and finishes like drywall.-- www.dragonboard.com
MagBoard™ is water-resistant. In addition, it shows no structural change after 25 cycles of
freeze-thaw. Bending strength of MagBoard™ remains unaltered when wet. MagBoard™ has been tested for fire-resistant properties under ASTM E-119-00a. MagBoard™ passes the “Hose Stream Test” for the 1 hour fire rating. Insects such as termites and carpenter ants are unable to survive in or on MagBoard™.
MagBoard is sold in 4x8, 4x9 and 4x10 sheets and can be used virtually anywhere construction panels are needed.
www.mag-board.com
Strong Enviroboard--Strong-Enviro Board is a multi-use fire resistant and mold/mildew resistant wall board. Strong-Enviro Board is manufactured in China by S.E.B. BETA BUILDING MATERIALS CO., LTD.
Strong-Enviro Board manufacturing began in 1997 and is currently produced on 4 production lines with annual output of over 30,000,000 square feet. Strong-Enviro Board is exported to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Korea, Japan, Europe and North America.
Strong-Enviro Board is recognized and used widely in residential, commercial, and industrial applications including airports, hospitals, schools, hotels, condominiums, tunnels, watercrafts, factories, and warehouses. Some company’s that have used Strong-Enviro Board include, ASUS Computers, INCENTEC, ASE GROUP, 3M and Taipei 101 (the tallest building in the world).
www.strongenviroboard.com
Martin Marietta Magnesia Specialties, LLC--Leading Supplier of
Magnesium Oxide and Magnesium Hydroxide Products. They have provided a
very comprehensive info page on this product. http://www.magspecialties.com/students.htm
Dezhou Lingmei Industry & Trade Co., Ltd was founded in 2003 and the registering funds was 10,000,000 yuan.
The business is producing building material and developing the technology of saving energy sources with the specialization of production and management.
Fireproof board (magnesium oxide board) has many advantages, such as waterproof, fireproof, soundproof, heat preservation, nonpoisonous and tasteless material which never becomes moldy and rotten . It can be used in wide fields by sawing or nailing. It is easy to install and can be used for a long time.
http://www.dzlmgm.com//english/gsjj_about.htm
FlavorSea--seems to be a Chinese
Company that makes all sorts of engineered building products. This name makes me
hungry. I doubt that they realize how strange it sounds to English speaking
people. www.favorsea.com
ZHOUSHAN BAIQUAN NEW BUILDING MATERIALS CO., LTD.
Was establish in 1998, located in the Zhoushan Islands, which is nearby to Shanghai and Ningbo
cities, separated from the mainland China by a narrow body of water. The company
produces "EAGLEBOARD" brand Magnesium Oxide fireproof board, which has the characteristics of fire-resistance, water proof, sound and heat insulation. The most distinct nature of the board is
fire-resistance. Its combustion capability and maximum fire-resistance rate have been tested and identified by China National Center for Quality Supervision and Test of Fixed-extinguishing Systems and fire-resisting building components. Those tests have been proceeded according to the German Standard DIN4102-81 and ISO/FDIS 834-1:1997 (E) respectively. Comparing with the similar products,
Eagleboard has more advantages, like insects-resistance, light weight but strong as well as may application conveniences, for this product is easy to cut, saw, nail, stick, paint etc.
Eagleboard, which has functions of fire prevention, watertightness, antisepticise etc., achieved the GB8624A standard, the CNS18164 non-combustible class one standard and JIS5430non-combustible
standard. Eagleboard is the A grade not-burning material. Eagleboard still keeps intact after being soaked in water for one month, the phenomenon of swelling and out of shape will not happen. Out of shape rate in the condition of wet or dry is 0.26%, and absorb water rate is about 15%.
Sound insulation--95mm insulates equivalent to four 12mm gypsum boards and 123mm wall 's sound insulation standard, equivalent to 150mm ordinary solid sound insulation result of brick wall.
Eagleboard's thermal resistance is 1.14m2.k/w--Keep warm and insulate heat . www.eagleboard.net
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